Primary education

Primary schools and kindergartens

Kindergarten is followed by 5 years of learning. It is concluded by the Scholarship Examination taken by children in 5th grade. Children begin to go to kindergarten when they are between 4 and 5 years old, and usually leave once they are 9-10 years old.

The primary school’s final exam, the Scholarship Examination, is very important as it determines a child’s future. The personal result and performance defines whether a child can gain access to a prominent government school. The exam can be taken in one of three languages: Sinhala, Tamil or English.

The weekly timetable of primary education can vary between 16 and 24.5 hours, depending on the grade and age of the child. There is a wide variety of subjects taught in these schools including:

• First National Language (Tamil or Sinhala)
• Second National Language (Tamil or Sinhala)
• English
• Environment related activities (Social studies, Science, Health, Physical Education, and aesthetic subjects such as Art, Music and Dancing)
• Religion
• Co-curricular activities (Meditation, participation in cultural and religious festivals and events)
• Optional curricular activities (pupils in 5th grade can choose a subject with regards to their skills and interests, for example Art, Agriculture or Dancing)

As well  as these classes, pupils attend an assembly each morning, which has a religious focus, drills and exercise (1hr and a quarter per week of each). Children have between an hour and a quarter and two and half hours of break time per week, depending on their grade.